The arsonists who knocked a young mum unconscious and torched her home knew there was a baby inside the house, a police press conference heard this morning.

Mum-of-one Danielle Wails mum watched her four-month-old baby die through a wall of flames after being bound and beaten by masked raiders.

Police said today that the two men probably intended to kill both mother and child.

Northumbria Police senior investigating officer Detective Supt Barbara Franklin said a massive murder hunt had been launched.

"I am absolutely sure that they knew there was a baby in the house. It was crying, it was in the same room as its mother. The house is a small house and it was a tiny living room.

"There is no way they could not have known that baby was in the house. "It would appear their intention was to kill them both if they have in fact locked that door."

The 21-year-old was woken by the smoke from her blazing sofa but was beaten by flames while trying to save little Alexander Lee Gallon. The raiders had bound together Danielle's hands using a length of telephone cable.

Using her tongue the mother dialled 999 and screamed for help. Firefighters kicked down the locked front door to her home on Link Road, in Cowgate, Newcastle and rushed the injured mum to hospital.

But they were unable to save baby Alexander who was declared dead at Newcastle General Hospital shortly after 11.02pm on Sunday.

Det Supt Franklin said: "At 10.30pm on Sunday, Danielle was at her home in Newcastle with her only son Alexander.

"The front door was open as is normal for that part of town when two men wearing black clothes and masks entered the house.

"They punched her and kicked her and she fell to the ground and passed out.

"She lay unconscious on the floor of the living room where her baby was sleeping on a sofa. "Her hands were tied in front of her with what is believed to have been a telephone cable.

"She was woken by the smoke from the fire, the base of which was believed to have been set on one of two settees in the middle of the living room.

"The seat of the fire was between her and the baby. We believe she had tried to get to the baby but the intensity of the flame prevented her from reaching him.

"Her neighbours heard her screams and tried to get into the house.

"But the door, which has a Chubb lock and not a Yale lock, had been locked shut.

"Danielle had rung the emergency services using her tongue. Firefighters kicked down the door and had to warn Danielle to stand back as they did so.

"She collapsed onto the street outside as soon as the door was open.

"Emergency services crew found the baby on the living room floor. Alexander was taken to Newcastle General Hospital but could not be revived.

"Danielle is shocked and distressed but had a wound to her head, bruising to her face and bruising to her hands and wrists.

"This is a horrific incident which has left a baby dead and a young woman injured. We could very well have been investigating two deaths.

"It is difficult to comprehend the wickedness of anyone who would do such a thing.

"To say this was horrendous is an understatement. We need people to come forward and help us catch these two people. If ever there was a crime that the public are going to help in, it should be this one."

A post-mortem on baby Alexander was being carried out yesterday afternoon.

Supt Franklin said there were 40 detectives hunting the raiders who would be joined by Northumbria Police house to house team, search team and the community team who would visit the estate to reassure Danielle's neighbours.

She said the two-bedroom house had been leased to Danielle by a charity which provides help for vulnerable young mums aged between 18 and 25.

She said: "The fire is being treated as arson. We believe the fire was started deliberately in the living room.

"Fire experts are still examining the scene. Police fingerprint experts are going to follow on from the fire experts. The seat of the fire is believed to have been the settee in the centre of the room.

"When Danielle regained consciousness the living room was virtually at flashpoint."

Supt Franklin said it was too early to say who had been the intended victim.

She said Danielle did not recognise either of the men, who did not speak during the attack, she had been hit from behind and did not get a good view of either of them.

Det Supt Franklin said Danielle had been released from hospital and was staying with relatives in Newcastle where she was being cared for by the baby's father, Robert Gallon.

"We intend to speak to Robert Gallon. He is Danielle's boyfriend but did not live with her as a couple.

"Danielle was not a victim of domestic violence, he took an active part in caring for their baby.

"We have a number of lines of enquiry we will have to follow up. We want to know who saw two men on the estate wearing dark clothes at 10.30pm that night. We believe we may be able to find CCTV camera footage of the pair.

"We will have to look at Danielle and her relationships to see if there is anyone in her background who has a grudge or vendetta against her.

"It is going to be a very slow and painful process for her to have to recount what has happened.

"There is no obvious drugs connection with either Danielle, Robert or any of their associates.

"These men did not steal anything, they said nothing, they were in and out very quickly. There are many lines of enquiry that need to be followed up before I am prepared to say whether this could be an organised crime hit."